Login
My Garage
New hero

What type of maintenance work does an electric vehicle need?

By Jack Evans | May 30, 2024

Share

Why not leave a comment?

See all | Add a comment

Many people might not know how to keep an electric vehicle serviced and maintained. Regit is here to help...

What type of maintenance work does an electric vehicle need?

It’s fair to say that most people have a basic idea of how an electric car works. A battery powers the motors, which then drive the wheels and that’s how the whole car moves forward. Once those batteries are depleted, they’re charged up so you can go out again. 

But what people might not know is how you keep an electric vehicle serviced and maintained. Here, we’re going to take through some of the areas of servicing that an electric vehicle might need. 

Tyres

Tyres are probably the most obvious area of maintenance on an electric vehicle. Quite often, EVs weigh more than their equivalent petrol or diesel-powered model and this, coupled with the high level of torque that a lot of battery models produce, means that they can wear through tyres more quickly. 

A lot of electric vehicles come with a dual-motor setup - with all four wheels powered - and this can chew through rubber quickly as well. As always, make sure your tyres don’t go below the 1.6mm legal limit and make sure that you get them replaced if you notice and cuts or gashes in the sidewall. 

Brakes

Electric vehicles use something called regenerative braking, which effectively reverses the electric motors when you’re slowing down to bring the car to a halt. Because of this, EVs wear through their conventional brakes far more slowly than a conventional car. 

That said, you’ll still need to replace them if they wear out. It might be good to get them inspected from time to time too, as by using regenerative braking the ‘normal’ brakes can sometimes stick and prevent the car from travelling as efficiently as possible. 

Coolant and fluids

You might not think it, but electric vehicles need coolant too. It’s used to keep the car’s battery at a consistent temperature and help it deal with big fluctuations in heat and cold. You’ll also sometimes find oil used in an electric vehicle’s gearbox - depending on the model - and this will also need topping up. 

As with other aspects here, these fluids need changing and replacing far less regularly than on a regular car. 

Suspension

Naturally, an electric vehicle still has a full suspension system and this will need regular checking. If you hit a particularly large pothole in an electric vehicle it’s still worth having the suspension looked at and this is certainly the case if you notice that the car isn’t travelling perfectly straight when the wheel is dead-ahead. 

It’s likely that the suspension will be checked over during regular servicing, but as with all vehicles, it’s worth having it looked at if you have any concerns. 

What about service schedules and warranties?

Even though they don’t need as much mechanical looking-after as a petrol or diesel car, all EVs will still have a servicing schedule issued by the manufacturer. Volkswagen’s ID range of electric vehicles, for instance, comes with a recommended two-year servicing schedule and that’s without a mileage limit. 

If you’re looking at purchasing an electric vehicle then it’s a good idea to see what kind of servicing schedule it has. 

Related Articles

UK EV drivers are doing more miles than petrol owners – stats reveal
Battery-electric cars are outdriving petrol vehicles. Discover why more drivers are choosing EVs for long trips.
Jul 18, 2025
Used Citroen sales suspended as 'stop-drive' airbag recall hits UK
Buying a used Citroen? It could be illegal to drive. Learn why dealers are pulling listings and what you should do next.
Jul 18, 2025
Don’t have a driveway? Oxfordshire's got a clever fix for charging your EV
A new scheme in Oxfordshire lets you charge your electric car at home without a driveway. Here's how it works and what it costs.
Jul 17, 2025
Solo drivers could be banned in Spain - Is the UK next?
Spain is considering new traffic rules, including a two-person car minimum. Could similar policies come to the UK? Here's what drivers need...
Jul 17, 2025